RTA approves five-year strategic plan for Chicago area passenger service

The Chicago Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors has adopted the 2013 Regional Transit Strategic Plan, which will serve as the roadmap for planning and development for transit during the next five years.

The 2013 Plan was created in partnership with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace. The RTA also solicited input from the general public, stakeholders and elected officials from the six-county region over a six months period.

The 2013 Strategic Plan addresses issues, such as lack of capital funding and improving the overall customer service experience through a more modernized and integrated system. Some of the recommendations include solidifying long-term funding solutions to support state of good repair, developing solutions for the region's existing needs and growing revenue and managing costs. The RTA is required by law to update the region's Transit Strategic Plan every five years.

"The plan lays out recommendations to address the most important issues facing our region's transit system," said Joe Costello, RTA executive director. "It offers up real-world solutions to the challenges the region faces and consistently makes the riders' safety and satisfaction its number one priority."

Some highlights of the plan include strategic investments in modern technology, improving the customer experience through a modernized & integrated system, modernizing the customer experience to facilitate seamless regional travel, accommodating growing demand during peak use and increase ridership to better leverage capacity during off peak hours

The full plan was approved by the RTA Board of Directors on August 21, 2013.